Chances of being disappointed with multi-core?

[street carp]

Short history: I trade for a living and one of my trading programs freezes my computer for 1-5 seconds during times of panic selling/buying when the quotes are moving very fast. This can be a huge deal because serious money can be riding on when I get in or out of a trade. I've called the broker and they haven't had any other complaints about this, however most may not day trade like I do and use the particular program I use.

This isn't a video card problem because the program's graphics are 2D and when things get frozen CPU usage is at 100%. I have the same problem on two nearly identical computers with a X850XT in one and a GeForce 5900XT in the other (5Mbps Internet connection has tested good as well.) This seems to leave the CPU as the culprit.

Am I wrong to expect this problem to be fixed after upgrading from a single-core Athlon XP mobile clocked to 2.2Ghz (3200+) to either a E6750 or Q6600 (leaning towards the quad)?

I mean, I expect at minimum 3.0 stable oc vs. my present 2.2, multi-core vs. single, and L2 cache of 4MB vs. 512kb. Other upgrades would be SATA vs. ATA DDR2 vs. DDR and higher FSB, PCI-E vs. AGP.

I know I'm due for a new computer anyway, it's been 3-4 years, but am I wrong to expect this problem to be corrected?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[tno]

This will definitely solve your problem. Those fancy web apps will often eat a lot of computer cycles all at once as the page tries to load as a whole. When it comes to simple apps and 2d graphics, even the cheapest multicore will do the trick. Unless you're planning on doing some gaming or other then you don't need to spend lots of money fo rhigh end products. But if you do, more power to you, let us know how it goes!

tno

 

[Aluvus]

The large increase in per-core performance should help. As for whether having more cores would help, this is largely dependent on the application. If it is written to support multi-threading, then the advantage can be substantial. If not, the advantage can be fairly small.

Performance of either of those chips should be a healthy improvement, even in single-threaded apps, over what you have now.

 

[MarcVenice]

If you do stock trading, then why do you even need to ask ? A $2k rig should be peanuts to you

 

[ty1er]

Maybe your current PC OS is due for at format/reinstall. I can't see a online trading program being all that demanding.

 

[stevty2889]

It could also be your internet connection, or the amount of ram you have, but if your CPU is pegged at 100% when it happens, there is a good chnace a dual core could help, even if the program isn't multi-core aware, the newer dual cores are going to be faster in single-cpu applications as well.

 

[street carp]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
If you do stock trading, then why do you even need to ask ? A $2k rig should be peanuts to you

Haha...actually this year has been fortunate so far. But in stock trading it's easier to lose big than to gain big. I've had too many sickeningly large losses that (aside from a nice car) I spend the same way I did when I had a delivery job. I don't want to throw money at a problem hoping it will fix it, when the answer may be just switch brokers. I've done a lot of investigating and it looks like I'm the only one so I'm gonna guess it's on my end.

Originally posted by: ty1er
Maybe your current PC OS is due for at format/reinstall. I can't see a online trading program being all that demanding.

Both of my computers have the same problem, even though one XP Pro install is much more recent than the other. I'm diligent about keeping programs from auto starting, keeping spyware/adware removed, defragging, windows defender, disc cleanup, etc.

It's not demanding video-wise being 2D, but CPU-wise, as the quotes are flying in and changing quite fast.

 

[KIAman]

If your trading program is not written with multithreading, getting multiple cores will do nothing.

My guess would be the amount of RAM. If you have less than 1GB then it is time to upgrade your RAM to 2GB or more.

If you're upgrading your computer anyways, generate a list of requirements you want from your computer from what programs you run to what types of activities you do, etc. Then based on your requirements, you can break down the actual hardware needs and reduce your cost and your expectations.

 

[street carp]

Originally posted by: KIAman
If your trading program is not written with multithreading, getting multiple cores will do nothing.

My guess would be the amount of RAM. If you have less than 1GB then it is time to upgrade your RAM to 2GB or more.

If you're upgrading your computer anyways, generate a list of requirements you want from your computer from what programs you run to what types of activities you do, etc. Then based on your requirements, you can break down the actual hardware needs and reduce your cost and your expectations.

I have 2 x 1 GB of CL2 Patriot DDR running in dual channel. 400MHz and passes memtest for as long as I run it.

No, I don't expect the program is written for multi-threading. But I do use two trading programs at once. TotalView causes the problem. It streams all the quotes with bids/asks and streams highs/lows for the day. I can filter it to keep out stocks at certain price levels, too low volume, etc. This is the one taxing the CPU. The other is Java-based charts and not a problem. (I mean the Java program will freeze along with the rest of the computer but only when the 1st program causes the problem.)

So wouldn't multi-core help in this situation. Meaning...if TotalView continues the freezing problem I will still have 1 or 3 cores ready to take over the Java charts duties. The Java program also has my buy/sell screen which freezes too, so that's the program that's vital to keep running smoothly.

As for what I'd build...I have two scenarios (or something in between):

One - E6750, sub-$100 Gigabyte board, 250GB Seagate SATA, 2GB Ballistix, GeForce 7900GS.
Two - Q6600, Abit board, 150GB Raptor, 2GB Ballistix 8800GT

Since I already have a good Antec case and a new P&C Power & Cooling 610W PSU the cheap system will cost under $600 and the other under $1100. You know playing Crysis is tempting so the 8800GT is tempting...

BTW thanks to all for helping out so far.

 

[KIAman]

Unless you set the affinity for each process yourself, the OS tries its best to load balance between applications.

Considering you have a PCP&C budget doesn't seem a concern. Go with option 2 and swap out that raptor drive for a hitachi 1tb.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
If you do stock trading, then why do you even need to ask ? A $2k rig should be peanuts to you

peopel who just trade all day do not necssarily make money. i suppose in the current market environment yet, but i remember during the dot com crash, people were losing their asses and committing suicide all the time.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: KIAman
If your trading program is not written with multithreading, getting multiple cores will do nothing.

Not really true, here's why:

Originally posted by: KIAman
Unless you set the affinity for each process yourself, the OS tries its best to load balance between applications.

Since his complaint was "one of my trading programs freezes my computer for 1-5 seconds during times of panic selling/buying when the quotes are moving very fast." So, with this app requiring 100% cpu load on a single core, it will now only put a 50% load on each core of a dual-core. Of course, if the app is multi-threaded, it will still use 100% of both cores, but instead of being 2.5x as fast, it will now be ~5x as fast.

 

[street carp]

Originally posted by: KIAman
Considering you have a PCP&C budget doesn't seem a concern. Go with option 2 and swap out that raptor drive for a hitachi 1tb.

I bought that PCP&C because the PSU is the backbone of the system and I had an Antech True Power Fail...yeah that purchase hurt. As far as the HD, Raptor appears faster than Hitachi and I don't need all that space. If I do I'll use a separate drive. (I'd only get the 150GB because is has the best $/GB ratio for the Raptors).

Well, I'm pretty set on a new system...the Q6600. Maybe I can wait it out until Black Friday and some of these prices will drop.

 

[tno]

That sounds like it'll be a killer system. The Raptors are a wise choice, pick a rock solid stable board for all that and you should be quite happy with your purchase.

tno